EC claims ‘a little bit of violence’

The Election Commission saw ‘only a little bit of violence and disturbance’ during the fourth phase of Upazila Parishad elections that left four people killed on Sunday.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 23 March 2014, 03:35 PM
Updated : 23 March 2014, 04:11 PM

Commissioner Abdul Mobarak even expressed ‘satisfaction’ at the overall situation at 91 Upazilas of 43 districts.

“The voting has ended fairly. Many centres, however, have been closed for some stray, unnecessary and unwanted incidents,” he said to reporters in the evening.

Balloting ended at 4pm amid occupation of polling centres, snatching and burning of ballots and sporadic violence. The bloodshed claimed four lives at Munshiganj, Brahmanbaria, Jhalakathi and Comilla.

He said, “We had taken measures to prevent violence. But a little bit of violence took place even after that.”

The commissioner blamed the candidates’ ‘stubborn desire to win’.

He urged the political parties to follow the electoral code of conduct in the non-political local government body polls.

“Another phase of polls will take place on March 31. I urge the political parties to honour the law. If you want to join partisan polls, change the law.”

Mobarak said 20 complaints were accepted on Sunday while steps were taken against an Assistant Sub-Inspector of police.

Voting at 32 centres at 11 Upazilas were also suspended due to violence, clashes, obstruction in casting vote and snatching and burning of ballots, he added.

The Election Commissioner on Saturday said that no leniency would be shown to anybody involved in violence. He had said that law enforcers were also told to shoot at sight if there was any attempt to snatch ballot boxes.